Battery device and electronic apparatus

ABSTRACT

A battery charger includes a battery attachment section configured to have a rechargeable battery releasably attached thereto. The battery attachment section includes a flat attachment surface having a width corresponding to a width of a bottom surface of a case of the battery to be charged and a length greater than a length of the bottom surface of the case of the battery to be charged; a plurality of locking hooks provided on the attachment surface; a charger terminal configured to contact a terminal of the battery to be charged, the charger terminal including a plurality of plate-shaped contact pieces configured to be inserted into engaging grooves of the battery to be charged; and an attachment projection adjacent to the attachment surface and configured to secure the battery to the charger.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.14/046,453, filed Oct. 4, 2013, which is a continuation of U.S.application Ser. No. 13/839,580, filed Mar. 15, 2013, now U.S. Pat. No.8,617,741, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.13/481,359, filed May 25, 2012, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,461,799, which is acontinuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 13/240,973, filed Sep. 22,2011, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,432,127, which is a continuation of U.S.application Ser. No. 12/845,437, filed Jul. 28, 2010, now U.S. Pat. No.8,048,553, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.11/858,654, filed Sep. 20, 2007, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,794,867, which is acontinuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/550,535, filed Sep. 20,2006, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,306,878, the entire contents of each of whichis incorporated herein by reference. U.S. application Ser. No.10/550,535 is a National Stage of PCT/JP2004/019780, filed Dec. 24,2004, which is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from priorJapanese Patent Application No. 2003-433927, filed Dec. 26, 2003.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a battery apparatus, and electronicequipment which operates by the battery apparatus.

BACKGROUND ART

There have been provided a battery apparatus, and electronic equipmentwhich has a battery attachment section to which the battery apparatus isattached, and operates by power supplied from the battery apparatus(see, e.g., Japanese Patent Publication No. 2508447).

If the electronic equipment is to be used by attaching the batteryapparatus thereto, it is required that a battery apparatus having acapacity suitable for a current to be consumed by the electronicequipment be attached to the electronic equipment. Therefore, it ispreferable to permit attachment of only a battery apparatus having asuitable capacity, to the battery attachment section, and not to permitattachment of a battery apparatus not having a suitable capacity.

Thus, conventionally, e.g., around the middle of an attachment surfaceof the battery attachment section of the electronic equipment, aprojection (recess) is provided which projects outward from theattachment surface, and in a bottom surface of the battery apparatuswhich faces the above-mentioned attachment surface, a recess(projection) is also provided so as to be hollowed out from the bottomsurface of the battery apparatus. And it is configured such that onlywhen the projection and the recess match, attachment of the batteryapparatus to the attachment section is permitted, and such that whenthey do not match, attachment of the battery apparatus to the batteryattachment section is prohibited (see, e.g., Japanese Patent PublicationNo. 3427900).

Further, a battery charger as electronic equipment for charging thebattery apparatus needs to set proper charging current values for supplyto a plurality of types of battery apparatus, each having a differentcharacteristic (capacity, suitable charging current, or the like). Thus,e.g., a switch for switching charging current values is provided on thebattery charger, and a user operates the switch according to the batteryapparatus.

However, if the recess is provided around the middle of the attachmentsurface or the bottom surface of the battery apparatus or the electronicequipment, due to the fact that substrates and electronic components aredisposed around the middle of the attachment surface and the bottomsurface, the size of the battery apparatus or the electronic equipmentmust be increased, depending on the depth of the recess, and thisconfiguration has been disadvantageous in miniaturizing the batteryapparatus and the electronic equipment.

Further, in the case where the switch for switching charging currents isprovided on the battery charger, the user must operate the switch foreach different characteristic of the battery apparatus, and thisconfiguration has been disadvantageous in improving their operability.The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, andan object thereof is to provide a battery apparatus and electronicequipment, in which the battery apparatus having a characteristiccompatible with the electronic equipment can be suitably attached to theelectronic equipment, and which are advantageous in miniaturizingthemselves and improving their operability.

Further, another object of the present invention is to provideelectronic equipment which can operate suitably according to acharacteristic of a battery apparatus, and which is advantageous inenhancing its usability.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

To achieve the above-mentioned objects, a battery apparatus of thepresent invention is characterized as follows. The battery apparatusincludes: a case having a width, a thickness, and a length; a batterycell accommodated inside the case; and a battery-side terminal providedon an end surface which is positioned at one of ends of the case in alength direction and which is electrically connected to the batterycell. A bottom surface positioned on one side of the case in a thicknessdirection is aligned with an attachment surface of a battery attachmentsection of electronic equipment to attach the battery apparatus bysliding the case along the length direction thereof, and thebattery-side terminal comes in contact with an attachment section-sideterminal of the battery attachment section. The battery-side terminal isprovided on the end surface, and an identification section foridentifying a characteristic of the battery apparatus is provided at alocation which is on the end surface and which is on a side of thebattery-side terminal in the width direction. The identification sectionis configured with an identification recess formed in a manner open tothe end surface, and at least one of a position, a cross-sectionalshape, and a length of the identification recess is formed on the basisof the characteristic of the battery apparatus.

Further, electronic equipment of the present invention is electronicequipment having a battery attachment section to which a batteryapparatus is releasably attached, and is characterized as follows. Thebattery apparatus includes a case having a width, a thickness, and alength; a battery cell accommodated inside the case, and a battery-sideterminal provided on an end surface which is positioned at one of endsof the case in a length direction and which is electrically connected tothe battery cell. The battery-side terminal is provided on the endsurface, and an identification section for identifying a characteristicof the battery apparatus is provided at a location which is on the endsurface and which is on a side of the battery-side terminal in the widthdirection. The identification section is configured with anidentification recess formed in a manner open to the end surface, and atleast one of a position, a cross-sectional shape, and a length of theidentification recess is formed on the basis of the characteristic ofthe battery apparatus. The battery attachment section is provided withan attachment section-side terminal which connects to the battery-sideterminal in a state in which a bottom surface positioned at one end ofthe case in a thickness direction is aligned with an attachment surfaceof the battery attachment section to attach the battery apparatus bysliding the case along the length direction thereof, and anidentification projection which is inserted into the identificationrecess of the battery apparatus having the characteristic usable for theelectronic equipment.

Furthermore, electronic equipment of the present invention is electronicequipment having a battery attachment section to which a batteryapparatus is releasably attached, and is characterized as follows. Thebattery apparatus includes a case having a width, a thickness, and alength; a battery cell provided inside the case; and a battery-sideterminal provided on an end surface which is positioned at one of endsof the case in a length direction and which is connected to the batterycell. The battery-side terminal is provided on the end surface, and anidentification section for identifying a characteristic of the batteryapparatus is provided at a location which is on the end surface andwhich is on a side of the battery-side terminal in the width direction.The identification section is configured with an identification recessformed in a manner open to the end surface, and at least one of aposition, a cross-sectional shape, and a length of the identificationrecess is formed on the basis of the characteristic of the batteryapparatus. The battery attachment section is provided with an attachmentsection-side terminal which connects to the battery-side terminal in astate in which the battery apparatus attached to the battery attachmentsection, and detection means for detecting at least one of the position,the cross-sectional shape, and the length of the identification recessof the battery apparatus, wherein the characteristic of the batteryapparatus is determined on the basis of a detection result by thedetection means.

As a result, according to the battery apparatus and the electronicequipment of the present invention, attachment of the battery apparatushaving a characteristic usable for the electronic equipment, to thebattery attachment section is permitted by the identification projectionbeing inserted into the identification recess. On the other hand, theidentification recess of the battery apparatus not having acharacteristic usable for the electronic equipment does not have theidentification projection inserted thereinto, and thus, attachment ofthe battery apparatus not having the characteristic usable for theelectronic equipment, to the battery attachment section is prohibited bythe identification projection not being inserted into the identificationrecess. As a result, the battery apparatus having the characteristiccompatible with the electronic equipment can be attached suitably.

Further, in the battery apparatus, portions which are inside of an endsurface at one end of the case in the length direction and which are onboth sides of the battery-side terminal in the width direction are leftas a dead space where neither boards nor electronic components aredisposed. Thus, even if the identification recess is provided in the endsurface of the case, the size of the case is not increased. Therefore,this configuration is not a hindrance to miniaturizing the batteryapparatus.

Furthermore, according to the battery apparatus of the presentinvention, when the battery apparatus has been attached to the batteryattachment section of the electronic equipment, at least one of theposition, cross-sectional shape, and length of the identification recessof the battery apparatus is detected by the detection means, whereby asuitable charging operation compatible with the characteristic of thebattery apparatus can be performed on the basis of this detectionresult. Therefore, this configuration is advantageous in enhancing theusability of the electronic equipment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a battery apparatus of Embodiment 1, asviewed from the bottom thereof.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing a configuration of thebattery apparatus of Embodiment 1.

FIG. 3 is explanatory diagram of a battery apparatus 100.

FIG. 4 is explanatory diagram of the battery apparatus 100.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of a main portion of FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged perspective view of the vicinity of anidentification section 1036.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an imaging apparatus 200 to which thebattery apparatus 100 is externally attached.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged view of a battery attachment section of theimaging apparatus 200.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the imaging apparatus 200 showing astate in which the battery apparatus 100 is attached thereto.

FIG. 10 is a diagram explaining attachment of the battery apparatus 100to the battery attachment section.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which the batteryapparatus 100 is attached to a battery attachment section 30.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram of a locking mechanism.

FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing a determination circuit forprojections 1018.

FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which the batteryapparatus 100 is attached to the battery attachment section 30 at anangle.

FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram showing the relationship betweenidentification recesses 1802, 1804 of an identification section 18 ofthe battery apparatus 100 and identification projections 36 of theimaging apparatus 200.

FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram showing the relationship between theidentification recesses 1802, 1804 of the identification section 18 ofthe battery apparatus 100 and the identification projections 36 of theimaging apparatus 200.

FIG. 17 is an explanatory diagram showing states in which four types ofbattery apparatus 100 (100A, 100B, 100C, 100D), each having a differentcapacity, charging current value for supply during charge, or the like,are attached to a battery charger 400 as electronic equipment.

FIG. 18 is an explanatory diagram showing states in which four types ofbattery apparatus 100 (100A, 100B, 100C, 100D), each having a differentcapacity, charging current value for supply during charge, or the like,are attached to the battery charger 400 as the electronic equipment.

FIG. 19 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the batteryapparatus 100 and the battery charger 400.

FIG. 20 is a flowchart showing a charging operation in a modifiedexample of Embodiment 2.

BEST MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

The object of permitting suitable attachment of a battery apparatushaving a characteristic compatible with electronic equipment, andminiaturizing them and improving their operability is realized byproviding identification recesses as an identification section in sideportions of a battery-side terminal of the battery apparatus, and alsoproviding identification recesses in the electronic equipment.

Further, the object of enhancing the usability of the electronicequipment is realized by providing detection means for determining thecharacteristic of the battery apparatus on the basis of at least theposition, cross-sectional shape, and the length of each identificationrecess of the battery apparatus.

Embodiment 1

Next, Embodiment 1 of the present invention will be described withreference to the drawings.

In the present embodiment, a case will be described, where a batteryapparatus of the present invention is used while attached to an imagingapparatus as electronic equipment.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a battery apparatus of Embodiment 1, asviewed from the bottom thereof, and FIG. 2 is an exploded perspectiveview showing a configuration of the battery apparatus of Embodiment 1.

First, the battery apparatus will be described.

As shown in FIG. 1, a battery apparatus 100 includes a case 10, arechargeable battery section 12 (see FIG. 2) provided inside the case10, a control circuit board 16 provided inside the case 10, abattery-side terminal 14 provided on the case 10, and an identificationsection 18.

As shown in FIG. 2, the rechargeable battery section 12 has fourcolumn-shaped battery cells 1202, a plurality of wiring members 1204 forconnection of the electrodes of these battery cells 1202, and a holdingmember 1206 set between the side surfaces of the respective batterycells 1202.

The control circuit board 16 is configured to be attached to therechargeable battery section 12 by connection to the electrodes of thebattery cells 1202 through the wiring members 1204, respectively, and tohave a microcomputer including a CPU, a RAM, a ROM, and an interface,thereby performing data communication with external electronic equipmentthrough the battery-side terminal 14. The above-mentioned datacommunication includes an operation of outputting identification dataindicative of a characteristic (including a capacity, a suitablecharging current value) of the battery apparatus 14. The identificationdata includes, e.g., data on whether or not the battery is quicklychargeable when attached to a battery charger, data indicative of aproper charging current value, or a maximum charging current value.

The battery-side terminal 14 is provided on a surface of the case 10,and is attached to the control circuit board 16 inside the case 10 forconduction to the electrodes of the battery cells 1202 through therespective wiring members 1204, whereby it is configured to supply anoperating current to the external electronic equipment from therespective battery cells 1202, or to supply a charging current to therespective battery cells 1202 from the battery charger, through thebattery terminal 14.

It should be noted that the number and shape of the battery cells 1202that forms the rechargeable battery section 12 depends, of course, onthe characteristic of the battery apparatus 100.

Next, a configuration of the case 10 will be described in detail.

FIG. 3 (A) is a plan view of the battery apparatus 100. FIG. 3 (B) is aview on arrow B of FIG. 3 (A). FIG. 3 (C) is a view on arrow C of FIG. 3(A). FIG. 3 (D) is a view on arrow D of FIG. 3 (A). FIG. 3 (E) is across-sectional view taken along a line EE of FIG. 3 (B). FIG. 4 (A) isa bottom view of the battery apparatus 100. FIG. 4 (B) is a view onarrow B of FIG. 4 (A). FIG. 4 (C) is a cross-sectional view taken alonga line CC of FIG. 4 (B). FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of a portion F ofFIG. 3 (C). FIG. 6 is an enlarged perspective view of the vicinity ofthe identification section 18.

The case 10 has a body section 1002 that extends along a lengthdirection L at an equal width W across, and a bottom section 1004 whichis provided in the middle of the body section 1002 in a width directionW and at one end of the body section 1002 in a thickness direction H andwhich extends in the length direction L at an equal width, which issmaller than the width of the body section 1002, across.

In the present embodiment, the case 10 includes a first segmentexcluding a portion of the body section 1002 which is near the bottomsection 1004, and the bottom section 1004, and a second segmentincluding the portion of the body section 1002 which is near the bottomsection 1004, and the bottom section 1004. The case 10 is formed bybonding these segments together along a bonding surface 1005. Therechargeable battery section 12 and the control circuit board 16 areaccommodated inside these segments.

As shown in FIGS. 2, 3, 4, portions on both sides of the case 10 in thewidth direction W are formed as flat side surfaces 1006 which extend inparallel to each other in the length direction L, and one of surfaces ofthe case 10 in the thickness direction H is formed as a flat bottomsurface 1008. In the present embodiment, side surfaces on both sides ofthe body section 1002 in the width direction W form the above-mentionedside surfaces 1006, and a bottom surface of the bottom section 1004forms the above-mentioned bottom surface 1008.

From both sides of the bottom surface 1008 in the width direction Wproject a plurality of locking pieces 1012. In the present embodiment,three locking pieces 1012A, 1012B, 1012C are formed on each side so asto project outward in the width direction W, keeping a spacetherebetween in the length direction L. Each locking piece 1012 (1012A,1012B, 1012C) portion which is positioned at one end in the thicknessdirection H is formed as a bottom surface positioned coplanar with thebottom surface 1008, and each locking piece 1012 (1012A, 1012B, 1012C)portion which is positioned at the other end in the thickness directionH is formed so as to be positioned coplanar with a surface parallel tothe bottom surface 1008.

And when the three locking pieces 1012 (1012A, 1012B, 1012C) areprovided in this way, the respective locking pieces 1012 (1012A, 1012B,1012C), a side surface 1016 of the bottom section 1004 which ispositioned on each of both sides in the width direction W, and a surface1014 of the body section 1002 which faces the bottom section 1004 formthree recessed portions 1010 in a bottom surface 1008 portion on each ofboth sides in the width direction W. Each recessed portion 1010 extendsin the length direction L.

These locking pieces 1012 (1012A, 1012B, 1012C) are formed so as toposition the case 10 thickness direction H in a battery attachmentsection of the electronic equipment. That is, when the bottom surface1008 of the case 10 is aligned with an attachment surface of the batteryattachment section of the electronic equipment and then the case 10 isslid thereover along the length direction L thereof, the locking pieces1012 are locked into locking hooks of the battery attachment section,whereby the case 10 is positioned in the thickness direction H in thebattery attachment section.

The battery-side terminal 14 is provided at a corner portion which isformed from an end surface 1022 and the bottom surface 1008 at one endin the length direction L.

As shown in FIG. 1, the battery-side terminal 14 includes a terminalcase 1402 which is incorporated into the case 10 and which forms a partof the end surface 1022 and the bottom surface 1008 of the case 10,engaging grooves 1404 formed in a manner extending to both the endsurface 1022 and the bottom surface 1008, and contact pieces providedinside the engaging grooves 1404.

The battery-side terminal 14 has a width extending width direction W ofthe case 10, a length extending in the length direction L of the case10, and a thickness extending in the thickness direction H of the case10.

Of the three locking pieces 1012 (1012A, 1012B, 1012C), the two lockingpieces 1012A, 1012C are provided at locations near the ends of the case10 in length direction L, and the remaining locking piece 1012B isprovided at a location closer to the locking piece 1012A which isprovided near the end of the case 10 where the battery-side terminal 14is positioned.

In the present embodiment, at side surface 1016 portions of the bottomsection 1004 corresponding to the two locking pieces 1012A, 1012B, thereare provided two projections 1018 projecting outward in width directionW from each of the side surfaces 1016, respectively. The two projections1018 are formed so as to be smaller in their projecting dimensions thanthe locking pieces 1012A, 1012B.

Through one of the two projections 1018, the locking piece 1012A, thesurface 1014 along which the body section 1002 faces the bottom section1004, and the side surface 1016 of the bottom section 1004 positioned oneach of both sides in width direction W are connected to each other, andthrough the other projection 1018, the locking piece 1012B, the surface1014, and the side surface 1016 are connected to each other. As aresult, these two projections 1018 provide an advantage of improving themechanical strength of the locking pieces 1012A, 1012B.

Further, a stopper wall 1020 is provided at each side surface 1016portion of the bottom section 1004 which corresponds to the remaininglocking piece 1012C and which is opposite to the location where thebattery-side terminal 14 is provided. Each stopper wall 1020 closes anend of the corresponding recessed portion 1010 in the length directionL. When the battery apparatus 100 is to be attached to the batteryattachment section, and if the battery apparatus 100 is not correctlyoriented in the length direction L, the stopper wall 1020 serves toblock attachment of the battery apparatus 100 in a wrong direction byabutment on the corresponding locking hooks of the battery attachmentsection.

Since each locking piece 1012C, the surface 1014, and the correspondingside surface 1016 are connected to each other by the correspondingstopper wall 1020, the stopper wall 1020 provides an advantage ofimproving the mechanical strength of the locking piece 1012C.

Further, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the end surface1022 of the case 10 on which the battery-side terminal 14 is provided isformed as a flat surface.

In the present embodiment, the battery-side terminal 14 is provided inthe middle of the end surface 1022 in the width direction W.

The identification section 18 serves to identify the characteristic ofthe battery apparatus 100. In the present embodiment, the identificationsection 18 is provided at locations which are on the end surface 1022and which are on both sides of the battery side terminal 14 in the widthdirection W.

The identification section 18 includes identification recesses 1802,1804 which are formed in a manner open to the end surface 1022. Theidentification recesses 1802, 1804 are provided at locations near thebottom surface 1008, and also formed in a manner open to the bottomsurface 1008.

And at least one of the positions, the cross-sectional shapes, and thelengths of the identification recesses 1802, 1804 on the end surface1022 is formed on the basis of the characteristic of the batteryapparatus 100. In the present embodiment, the identification section 18is formed such that the cross-sectional shape and length of theidentification recess 1802 are based on the characteristic of thebattery apparatus 100.

Note that in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, of surfacesforming the identification recess 1802, a surface portion close to thecorresponding recessed portion 1010 is formed into an angled surface1042 that nears the battery-side terminal 14 as it moves away from thebottom surface 1008, whereby to secure a thickness between that recessedportion 1010 and the identification recess 1802 and also to secure themechanical strength of the corresponding locking piece 1012A.

And at a location on the end surface 1022 which is distant from thebattery-side terminal 14 in the thickness direction H, a projection 1024is formed in a manner projecting therefrom. The projection 1024 has anequal dimension in the thickness direction H, and linearly extends inthe width direction W. The projection 1024 is formed at a locationcorresponding to the battery-side terminal 14, to have a length X2 whichis greater than at least a length X1 of a portion where electrodes ofthe battery-side terminal 14 are disposed.

Further, as shown in FIG. 1, a recess 1028 is formed in the bottomsurface 1008, and a model number label 1026 is stuck onto this recess1028. It is also configured such that either the surface of the modelnumber label 1026 is coplanar with the bottom surface 1008, or thesurface of the model number label 1026 is positioned inward of thebottom surface 1008 as viewed from the case 10. A positioning projection1030 is formed, which projects in the length direction L from a portionof the recess 1028 which is positioned opposite to the battery-sideterminal 14 in the length direction L, so as to form the same surface asthe bottom surface 1008. This projection 1030 is fitted into apositioning notch 1027 of the model number label 1026.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 4 (A) and (B), of end surfaces at both endsof the case 10 in the length direction L, the end surface of the bodysection 1002 which is positioned opposite to the battery-side terminal14 is formed into a flat end surface 1032 that extends at right anglesto the bottom surface 1008. An end surface of the bottom section 1004which is positioned opposite to the battery-side terminal 14 is formedinto a flat end surface 1034 that parallels the end surface 1032 at alocation inward of the above-mentioned end surface 1032 as viewed fromthe case 10. Therefore, a cut portion 1035 is formed from these endsurfaces 1032, 1034 at an end which is positioned opposite to thebattery-side terminal 14 in the length direction L of the case 10, andalong which the body section 1002 borders the bottom section 1004.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 6, two identification portions 18 areformed at locations on both sides of the bottom surface 1008 of thebottom section 1004, which interpose the battery-side terminal 14therebetween in the width direction W. These identification portions 18are formed as a recess 1804 that is open both in the thickness directionH and the length direction L, or formed as a recess 1802 that is open inthe thickness direction H and closed in the length direction L. Theidentification portions 18 are identified by identification meansprovided on the side of the electronic equipment, and theiridentification is made on the basis of the shapes of the recesses 1804,1802, or the length L of the recess 1804.

Note that, of surfaces forming the recess 1804, a surface portion whichis nearest to the recessed portion 1010 is formed into an angled surface1042, whereby a thickness between that recessed portion 1010 and therecess 1038 is secured to secure the mechanical strength of the lockingpiece 1012A.

Next, the imaging apparatus 200 will be described.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the imaging apparatus 200 to which thebattery apparatus 100 is externally attached. FIG. 8 is an enlarged viewof the battery attachment section of the imaging apparatus 200. FIG. 9is a perspective view of the imaging apparatus 200 showing a state inwhich the battery apparatus 100 is attached thereto.

As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the imaging apparatus 200 includes a case 24,an optical system 26 incorporated into the front of the case 24, animage pickup device, not shown, for imaging an object captured by theoptical system 26, a liquid-crystal display section 28 for displaying animage formed by the image pickup device, a recording/reproducingsection, not shown, for recording and/or reproducing the image capturedby the image pickup device on and/or from a recording medium, theabove-mentioned image pickup device, liquid-crystal display section 28,an identification projection 36, and the battery apparatus 100.

In the rear of the case 24 is a battery attachment section 30 to whichthe battery apparatus 100 is to be releasably attached.

The battery attachment section 30 has a flat attachment surface 3002, aplurality of locking hooks 3004 (3004A, 3004B, 3004C) provided on theattachment surface 3002, an attachment section-side terminal 32 that cancome in contact with the battery-side terminal 14, an attachmentprojection 34 provided on the attachment surface 3002, and theidentification projection 36.

The attachment surface 3002 has a width corresponding to the width ofthe bottom surface 1008 of the case 10 of the battery apparatus 100, anda length greater than the length of the bottom surface 1008, and hasside surfaces 3008 erected from peripheral sides of the attachmentsurface 3002.

The attachment section-side terminal 32 is provided at an end of theplacement surface 3002 in the length direction L, which is opposite tothe optical system 26, for connection to the battery-side terminal 14 tosupply power of the battery apparatus 100 to the recording/reproducingsection. In the present embodiment, the attachment section-side terminal32 is formed, as shown in FIG. 7, from a plurality of plate-shapedcontact pieces for insertion into the engaging grooves 1404 of thebattery-side terminal 14.

The attachment projection 34 is provided at a location on the attachmentsurface 3002 which is opposite to the attachment section-side terminal32 in a longitudinal direction of the attachment surface 3002, so as tobe retractable from the attachment surface 3002, and is configured to beurged so as to project from the placement surface 3002 at all times, andretract inward of the placement surface 3002 upon operation of anunlocking button, not shown.

The locking hooks 3004 (3004A, 3004B, 3004C) are provided in a numbercorresponding to the number of locking pieces 1012 of the batteryapparatus 100. In the present embodiment, there are provided threelocking hooks 3004 on each of both sides of the attachment surface 3002in the width direction, and formed so as to be lockable with the lockingpieces 1012 (1012A, 1012B, 1012C).

Each of the locking hooks 3004 (3004A, 3004B, 3004C) is provided with,as shown in FIG. 10, a vertical wall 3004E erecting from the placementsurface 3002, and a horizontal wall 3004F projecting from the distal endof the vertical wall 3004E in a manner paralleling the placement surface3002.

Of the three locking hooks 3004 (3004A, 3004B, 3004C), the two lockinghooks 3004A, 3004C are provided at locations near ends of the attachmentsurface 3002 in the length direction, and the remaining locking hook3004B is provided at a location closer to the locking hook 4003Aprovided near the end of the attachment surface 3002 where theattachment section-side terminal 32 is positioned.

And the case 10 is aligned with the attachment surface 3002 both in thewidth direction W and the length direction L, respectively, to cause thebattery-side terminal 14 of the battery apparatus 100 to face theattachment section-side terminal 32 of the battery attachment section30, and also to cause the bottom surface 1008 of the battery apparatus100 to face the attachment surface 3002 of the battery attachmentsection 30, and then the locking pieces 1012 (1012A, 1012B, 1012C) ofthe battery apparatus 100 are spaced apart from the locking hooks 3004(3004A, 3004B, 3004C) in the above-mentioned length direction Ldirection, respectively. Under this state, the bottom surface 1008 ofthe battery apparatus 10 is abutted on the attachment surface 3002 ofthe battery attachment section 30, whereby the battery apparatus 100 isslid in such a direction as to cause the battery-side terminal 14 tonear the attachment section-side terminal 32 in the length direction ofthe case.

As a result, the plurality of locking hooks 3004 are inserted into thecorresponding recessed portions 1010 to be locked with the lockingpieces 1012. The bottom surface 1008 of the case 10 is aligned with theattachment surface 3002, whereby to regulate the movement of the batteryapparatus 100 toward the attachment surface 3002. Furthermore, thelocking hooks 3004 and the locking pieces 1012 are locked together,whereby to regulate the movement of the battery apparatus 100 away fromthe attachment surface 3002. In this case, it may otherwise beconfigured such that the locking hooks 3004 and the locking pieces 1012are engaged, whereby to regulate the movement of the battery apparatus100 both toward and away from the attachment surface 3002.

In the battery apparatus 100, of the two end surfaces of the case 10 inthe length direction L, the end surface 1022 on the side of thebattery-side terminal 14 abuts onto one of the side surfaces 3008 of thebattery attachment section 30, with the locking hooks 3004 and thelocking pieces 1012 locked together, and the attachment projection 34engages with the cut portion 1035 of the battery apparatus 100, wherebyto regulate the movement of the case 10 in the length direction L. As aresult, attachment of the battery apparatus 100 in the batteryattachment section 30 is implemented, and thus the battery apparatus 100is held therein.

In the present embodiment, the distal ends of the locking hooks 3004 andthe corresponding ends of the projections 1018 come in contact with eachother, with the locking hooks 3004 and the locking pieces 1012 lockedtogether, to regulate the movement of the battery apparatus 100 in theabove-mentioned width direction W. In this case, it may otherwise beconfigured such that other portions of the battery apparatus 100 arebrought into contact with other portions of the battery attachmentsection 30 whereby to regulate the movement of the battery apparatus 100in the above-mentioned width direction W, by, e.g., bringing the sidesurfaces 1006 of the case 10 of the battery apparatus 100 into contactwith the side surfaces 3008 of the battery attachment section 30,instead of bringing the distal ends of the locking hooks 3004 intocontact with the corresponding ends of the projections 1018.

And when the battery apparatus 100 has been attached to the batteryattachment section 30, the battery-side terminal 14 of the batteryapparatus 100 comes in contact with the attachment section-side terminal32 of the battery attachment section 30.

The identification projection 36 is formed so as to be inserted into theidentification recess 1802 of the battery apparatus 100 having thecharacteristic usable for the imaging apparatus 200, with the batteryapparatus 100 attached to the battery attachment section 30.

In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 8, one identificationprojection 36 is provided at a location on a side surface 3008 which ispositioned on one side of the battery-side terminal 14 in the widthdirection. More particularly, the identification projection 36 isprovided at a location on the side surface 3008, which is near theattachment surface 3002, and a portion of the identification projection36 facing the attachment surface 3002 is connected with the attachmentsurface 3002, and thus the strength, rigidity of the identificationprojection 36 are ensured.

When the battery apparatus 100 has been attached to the batteryattachment section 30, a gap may be formed in some case, as shown inFIG. 11, between the end surface 1022 on the side of the battery-sideterminal 14 of the battery apparatus 100 and a portion of the case 24 (aside surface 3008 of a recess 3006) of the imaging apparatus 200, whichis opposed to the end surface 1022.

In this case, a recessed groove 3010 is formed in the side surface 3008of the recess 3006, and the projection 1024 of the battery apparatus 100is fitted into this recessed groove, whereby the above-mentioned gap canbe closed by the projection 1024. Thus, this configuration provides anadvantage of reliably preventing entrance of, e.g., foreign matterhaving conductivity from the above-mentioned gap to allow the foreignmatter to come in contact with connections between the battery-sideterminal 14 and the attachment section-side terminal 32.

Further, as shown in FIG. 12, it may alternatively be configured asfollows. That is, a locking hook 2008, which slides toward and away fromthe cut portion 1035 of the battery apparatus 100 that has been attachedto the battery attachment section 30, and which is urged by an urgingmember, such as a spring, toward the cut portion 1035 at all times, isprovided on the case 24. The locking hook 2008 is engaged with the cutportion 1035, whereby to prevent the dropping of the battery apparatus100 from the battery attachment section 30, and the locking hook 2008 isdisengaged from the cut portion 1035 of the battery apparatus 100,whereby to allow the battery apparatus 100 to be detached from thebattery attachment section 30.

In this case, since the cut portion 1035 is formed so as to be inward ofthe end surface 1032 as viewed from the battery apparatus 100, thelocking hook 2008 can be provided inward of the outer surface of thecase 24, and thus the locking hook 2008 can be formed in a manner notprojecting outward from the outer surface of the case 24 of the imagingapparatus 200. Therefore, this configuration is advantageous inminiaturizing the imaging apparatus 200 and improving its designability.

Furthermore, in this case, the portion of the locking hook 2008 whichengages with the cut portion 1035 is urged toward the bottom surface1008 of the battery apparatus 100 at all times, and thus when the bottomsurface 1008 of the battery apparatus 100 is slid along the attachmentsurface 3006 for attaching the battery apparatus 100 to the batteryattachment section 30 or detaching the battery apparatus 100 from thebattery attachment section 30, the distal end of the locking hook 2008projecting toward the bottom surface 1008 by the above-mentioned urgingmechanism abuts on the surface of a label of the model number label 1026or the like, which has been stuck onto the bottom surface 1008, makingit likely to wear off a printed portion on the surface of, e.g., themodel number label 1026 due to friction.

In this case, if the locking hook 2008 is disposed such that the distalend thereof abuts on the positioning projection 1030 and thus does notabut on the surface of the model number label 1026, the surface of themodel number label 1026 is less subject to damage or foul. Thus, thisconfiguration is advantageous in protecting the printed portion on thesurface of the model number label 1026. In this case, it may beacceptable if the positioning projection 1030 is provided coplanar withthe surface of the model number label 1026 or so as to be positionedoutward of the surface of the model number label 1026 as viewed from thecase 10.

Furthermore, using the position of the end surface 1022 of the case 100as a reference, whether or not the battery apparatus 100 is a genuineone can be determined on the basis of the position of each projection1018 provided in the above-mentioned length direction L direction (orthe presence/absence of each projection 1018 or the number ofprojections 1018).

For example, as shown in FIG. 13, sensors 302, 304 are provided in abattery accommodating chamber 20. The sensors 302, 304 are formed frommicroswitches for sensing the positions of the projections 1018 asviewed in the above-mentioned length direction L, using the end surface1022 of the case 100 as a reference. And a determination circuit 306 isprovided, which serves to determine whether or not the projections 1018are in their correct position on the basis of sensed signals from therespective sensors 302, 304.

According to such a configuration, supply of power from the batteryapparatus 100 is permitted only when the battery apparatus 100 isrecognized as a genuine product on the basis of a determination resultof the determination circuit 306. Otherwise, supply of power from thebattery apparatus 100 can be prohibited, to prevent use of any ungenuinebattery apparatus 100.

Furthermore, the above-mentioned identification data on the batteryapparatus 100 can be indicated according to the position of eachprojection 1018 provided in the above-mentioned length direction L, orthe presence/absence of each projection 1018, or the number ofprojections 1018.

For example, according to the configuration shown in FIG. 13, four typesof identification data can be represented by a combination of the on/offstates of the two sensors 302, 304. Therefore, if four sensors areprovided such that the positions of a total of four projections 1018provided on both sides of the case 10 of the battery apparatus 100 inthe width direction can be sensed, it goes without saying that as manyas eight types of identification information can be obtained.

Furthermore, using as the sensor one capable of measuring the positionof each projection 1018 as viewed in the above-mentioned lengthdirection, using the end surface 1022 as a reference, it goes withoutsaying that the number of types of identification data that can besensed by the sensor can further be increased.

Furthermore, if the electronic equipment to which the battery apparatus100 is attached is a battery charger for charging the battery apparatus100, it may be acceptable to provide the battery charger with one ormore sensors similar to the above-mentioned sensors 302, 304, to senseattachment/detachment of the battery apparatus 100 using the sensors,and to start the operation of charging the battery apparatus 100 inresponse to the sensing operation.

Furthermore, if the positions of the projections 1018 are determinedwith the above-mentioned sensors, it may also be implementable to causethe battery charger to judge the characteristic (capacity, suitablecharging current value, quick chargeablility, or the like) of thebattery apparatus 100.

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 1, it is configured such that the surfaceof the model number label 1026 is coplanar with the bottom surface 1008,or such that the surface of the model number label 1026 is positionedinward of the bottom surface 1008 as viewed from the case 10. Also, thepositioning projection 1030 forming the same surface as the bottomsurface 1008 is fitted into the positioning notch 1027 of the modelnumber label 1026. Thus, even if the bottom surface 1008 of the batteryapparatus 100 comes in frictional contact with the attachment surface3002 of the battery attachment section 30 due to the battery apparatus100 being attached to and detached from the battery attachment section30, the surface of the model number label 1026 is less subject to damageor foul. Thus, this configuration is advantageous in protecting thelabel on the model number label 1026.

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 14, when the battery apparatus 100 isattached to the battery attachment section 30 at an angle, the lockingpiece 1012A provided near the end of the case 100 at which thebattery-side terminal 14 is positioned is locked into the locking hook3004A positioned near the attachment section-side terminal 32. However,the locking piece 1012B provided at the location closer to theabove-mentioned locking piece 1012A abuts on the locking hook 3004B, tomake great an angle of inclination formed by the battery apparatus 100with respect to the attachment surface 3002, i.e., an angle formedbetween the bottom surface 1008 of the case 10 of the battery apparatus100 and the attachment surface 3002 of the battery attachment section30.

Therefore, it can be determined instantly that the battery apparatus 100is attached imperfectly, and thus this configuration is advantageous inattaching the battery apparatus 100 reliably.

In the present embodiment, since the locking piece 1012B is disposed soas to be closer to the locking hook 3004A which is positioned near theattachment section-side terminal 32, the inclination of the batteryapparatus 100 with respect to the attachment surface 3002 increases whenthe battery apparatus 100 is attached imperfectly, and thus it can bedetermined further simply that the battery apparatus 100 is attachedimperfectly.

Note that if the angle of the battery apparatus 100 with respect to theattachment surface 3002 is ten degrees or more, the inclination of thebattery apparatus 100 can be determined instantly.

Furthermore, in FIG. 10, of the locking hooks 3004 of the imagingapparatus 200, if the length of the locking hook 3004A which is near theattachment section-side terminal 32 is made shorter than those of theother two locking hooks 3004B, 3004C, the following advantages can beprovided.

That is, when attachment of the battery apparatus 100 to the batteryattachment section 30 is imperfect, i.e., when the two locking pieces1012B, 1012C are not locked into the locking hooks 3004B, 3004C, even ifthe locking piece 1012A provided near the end of the case 100 where thebattery-side terminal 14 is positioned is locked into the locking hook3004A positioned near the attachment section-side terminal 32, thebattery apparatus 200 inclines in such a direction as to be away fromthe attachment surface 3002 by the self weight of the battery apparatus100, and this angle of inclination increases with decreasing length ofthe locking hook 3004A which is near the attachment section-sideterminal 32. As a result, similarly to what has been mentioned above,the inclination of the battery apparatus 100 with respect to theattachment surface 3002 increases when attachment of the batteryapparatus 100 is imperfect, and thus it can be determined further simplythat the battery apparatus 100 is attached imperfectly.

Next, advantages of the present embodiment will be described.

According to the battery apparatus 100 and the imaging apparatus 200 ofthe present embodiment, the battery apparatus 100 is provided with theidentification recesses 1802, 1804 which are based on the characteristicof the battery apparatus 100, and the battery attachment section 30 isprovided with the identification projection 36 for insertion into theidentification recess 1802 of the battery apparatus 100 having thecharacteristic usable for the imaging apparatus 200.

Therefore, attachment of the battery apparatus 100 having thecharacteristic usable for the imaging apparatus 200, to the batteryattachment section 30 is permitted by the identification projection 36being inserted into the identification recess 1802.

On the other hand, the identification recess 1802 of a battery apparatus100 not having the characteristic usable for the imaging apparatus 200does not permit insertion of the identification projection 36 thereinto,and thus attachment of the battery apparatus 100 not having thecharacteristic usable for the imaging apparatus 200, to the batteryattachment section 30 is prohibited by the identification projection 36not being inserted into the identification recess 1802.

As a result, the battery apparatus 100 having the characteristiccompatible with the imaging apparatus 200 can be attached suitably. Forexample, to an imaging apparatus 200 that consumes a large amount ofcurrent, attachment is permitted of a battery apparatus 100 having alarge capacity that can hold the large amount of current to be consumed,and attachment is prohibited of a battery apparatus 100 having a smallcapacity that cannot hold the above-mentioned large amount of current tobe consumed. Alternatively, to an imaging apparatus 200 that consumes asmall amount of current, attachment is permitted of a battery apparatus100 having capacities ranging from a small capacity corresponding to thecurrent to be consumed, to a large capacity.

And in the battery apparatus 100, portions which are inward of an endsurface that is at one end of the case 10 in the length direction, andwhich are on both sides of the battery-side terminal 14 in the widthdirection are left as a dead space where neither boards nor electroniccomponents are disposed. Thus, even if the identification recess 1802 isprovided in the end surface of the case 10, it does not increase thesize of the case 10. Therefore, this configuration is not a hindrance tominiaturizing the battery apparatus 100. To describe it in more detail,an end surface, which is positioned opposite to the bottom surface 1008of the case 10 in the thickness direction of the battery-side terminal14, is positioned inside the case 10. Although lead wires for connectionto the control circuit board 16 are positioned at locations on this endsurface, not only portions which are near the bottom surface 1008 of thecase 10 and which are on both sides of the battery-side terminal 14 inthe width direction and portions which are in the middle of thebattery-side terminal 14 in the thickness direction and which are onboth sides of the battery-side terminal 14 in the width direction, butalso portions which are positioned inside the case 10 which are near theend surface of the battery-side terminal 14 and which are on both sidesof the battery-side terminal 14 in the width direction are left as adead space where neither components nor members are disposed. Thus, evenif the identification recess 1802 is provided, it does not increase thesize of the case 10. Therefore, this configuration is not a hindrance tominiaturizing the battery apparatus 100. Further, the identificationprojection 36 provided on the battery attachment section 30 of theimaging apparatus 200 is acceptable as long as it has a shape that canbe inserted into the identification recess 1802 of the battery apparatus100, and thus this configuration is not a hindrance to miniaturizing theimaging apparatus 200, similarly to the case of the battery apparatus100.

Note that the case where the identification recess 1802 is formed in amanner open to both the end surface and the bottom surface has beendescribed in the present embodiment. However, the identification recess1802 may otherwise be formed in a manner closed at the bottom surface.However, when the identification recess 1802 is formed in a manner opento both the end surface and the bottom surface as in the embodiment, theidentification projection 36 can be formed so as to be connected to boththe attachment surface 1008 and the side surface 3008, and thus thisconfiguration is advantageous in maintaining the strength of theidentification projection 36.

The present embodiment will be described in more detail with referenceto FIGS. 15, 16.

FIGS. 15, 16 are explanatory diagrams showing the relationship betweenthe identification recesses 1802, 1804 of the identification section 18of the battery apparatus 100 and the identification projection 36 of theimaging apparatus 200. Note that FIGS. 15 (A) through (D) and FIGS. 16(A) through (D) are perspective diagrams of the attachment section-sideterminals 32 and the identification projections 36 of battery attachmentsections 30. FIGS. 15 (A1) through (D1) and FIGS. 16 (A2) through (D2)are perspective diagrams in which battery apparatus 100 are attached tothe battery attachment sections 30. FIGS. 16 (A3) through (D3) areperspective diagrams in which a battery apparatus 100 is attached to thebattery attachment sections 30. FIG. 15 (E1), FIG. 16 (E2), FIG. 16 (E3)show side views of the battery apparatus 100. FIG. 15 (E1), FIGS. 16(E2), (E3) are diagrams of three types of battery apparatus 100 (100A,100B, 100C), each having a different characteristic from the others.Their widths are equal, but their capacity and thickness increase in thestated order, and the number of identification recesses 1802, 11804 andtheir lengths differ from one battery apparatus to another.

FIGS. 15 (A), (B), (C), (D), FIGS. 16 (A), (B), (C), (D) are diagramsrespectively showing portions of four types of battery attachmentsections 30 of the imaging apparatus 200 to which the battery apparatus100 are attached. Each of these four types of battery attachmentsections 30 permits attachment of a different type of battery apparatus100, and its identification projection(s) 36 differs in number andheight.

And FIGS. 15 (A1), (B1), (C1), (D1) show states in which the batteryapparatus 100A is attached to the four types of battery attachmentsections 30. FIGS. 16 (A2), (B2), (C2), (D2) show states in which thebattery apparatus 100B is attached to the four types of batteryattachment sections 30. FIGS. 16 (A3), (B3), (C3), (D3) show states inwhich the battery apparatus 100C is attached to the four types ofbattery attachment sections 30.

As shown in FIGS. 15 (A), (B), (C), (D), FIGS. 16 (A), (B), (C), (D),one of the battery attachment sections 30 is provided with only oneidentification projection 36 on one side of its attachment section-sideterminal 32, and other battery attachment sections 30 are provided witha total of two identification projections 36 on both sides of theirattachment section-side terminal 32. As to the two identificationprojections 36, there are variations in their length from one batteryattachment section 30 to another, such as two long identificationprojections 36 of the same length, two short identification projections30 of the same length, or two identification projections 30 each havinga different length.

Therefore, as to, e.g., a battery attachment section 30A, one of the twoidentification projections 36, 36 is formed to be large in length, andthe other identification projection 36 is formed to be short in length.

Further, as shown in FIG. 15 (A1), FIGS. 16 (A2), (A3), in one of thebattery apparatus 100, one of the two identification recesses is closed,and in other battery apparatus 100, both of the two identificationrecesses 1802, 1804 are open. As to the two identification recesses,there are variations in their length from one battery apparatus 100 toanother, such as two long identification recesses 1802, 1804 of the samelength, two short identification recesses 1802, 1804 of the same length,or two identification recesses 1802, 1804 each having a differentlength.

Therefore, as to, e.g., the battery apparatus 100A, one of the twoidentification recesses, i.e., the identification recess 1802, is short,and the other identification recess 1804 is closed.

Thus, in the case of the battery apparatus 100A, as in FIGS. 15 (A1),(B1), if the identification projection 36 is positioned at a locationcorresponding to the identification recess 1804 which is closed,attachment of the battery apparatus 100A is prohibited. On the otherhand, as shown in FIG. 15 (C1), when the identification projection 36 isprovided so as to correspond to the identification recess 1802 which isopen, and when the length of the identification projection 36 is equalto or smaller than the identification recess 1802, attachment of thebattery apparatus 100A is permitted. Further, as shown in FIG. 15 (D1),even if no identification projection 36 is provided at a locationcorresponding to the identification recess 1802 which is open,attachment of the battery apparatus 100A is permitted.

Furthermore, in the case of the battery apparatus 100B, 100C, similarlyto the case of the battery apparatus 100A, types of imaging apparatus200 which permit their attachment are determined according tocombinations of the lengths of the identification recesses 1802, 1804,the length of the identification projection(s) 36, and thepresence/absence of the identification projection(s) 36.

Embodiment 2

Next, Embodiment 2 of the present invention will be described withreference to the drawings.

Embodiment 2 differs from Embodiment 1 in that the electronic equipmentis a battery charger and that detection means for detecting theidentification section 18 of the battery apparatus 100 is provided.

FIGS. 17, 18 are explanatory diagrams showing states in which four typesof battery apparatus 100 (100A, 100B, 100C, 100D), each having adifferent capacity or charging current for supply during charge, areattached to a battery charger 400.

FIG. 19 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the batteryapparatus 100, and the battery charger 400 as the electronic equipment.In the following, the same or similar parts as in Embodiment 1 aredenoted by the same reference symbols, and their descriptions areomitted.

Note that FIGS. 17 (A), (B), and FIGS. 18 (C), (D) are perspectivediagrams of battery-side terminals 14. FIGS. 17 (A1), (B1) are views onarrow X1 of FIGS. 17 (A), (B) with the battery apparatus attached to abattery attachment section of the battery charger 400. FIGS. 17 (A2),(B2) are views on arrow X2 of FIGS. 17 (A), (B) with the batteryapparatus attached to the battery attachment section of theabove-mentioned battery charger. FIGS. 18 (C1), (D1) are diagrams asviewed in the direction of an arrow X1 of FIGS. 18 (C), (D) with thebattery apparatus attached to the battery attachment section of thebattery charger. FIGS. 18 (C2), (D2) are views on arrow X2 of FIGS. 18(A), (B) with the battery apparatus attached to the battery attachmentsection of the above-mentioned battery charger.

In the battery attachment section 30 (FIGS. 17, 18) of the batterycharger 400, there are provided an attachment section-side terminal (notshown) and detection means 40 (FIG. 19). The attachment section-sideterminal connects to the battery-side terminal 14 with the batteryapparatus 100 attached to the battery attachment section. The detectionmeans 40 serves to detect at least one of the positions, cross-sectionalshapes, and lengths of the identification recesses 1802, 1804.

In the present embodiment, as the detection means 40, sensors 402, 404(FIGS. 17, 18) formed from microswitches or the like are provided atlocations of the battery attachment section 30 which face the twoidentification recesses 1802, 1804, respectively.

Of the two sensors 402, 404, the sensor 402 is provided at such aposition as to be pressed by a case 10 portion which forms theidentification section 18 if one of the identification recesses, i.e.,the identification recess 1802 is short, and not to be pressed by thecase 10 portion which forms the identification section 18 if theidentification recess 1802 is long. Therefore, the sensor 402 isconfigured to detect the length of the identification recess 1802,whether it is long or short, and supply the detection result to acontrol section 308.

The other one of the two sensors 402, 404, i.e., the sensor 404 isprovided at such a position as to be pressed by a case 10 portion whichforms the identification section 18 if the other identification recess1804 is absent, and not to be pressed by the case 10 portion which formsthe identification section 18 if the identification recess 1804 ispresent. Therefore, the sensor 404 is configured to detect thepresence/absence of the identification recess 1804, and supply thedetection result to the control section 308.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 17 (A), (B), FIGS. 18 (C), (D), similarly tothe case of Embodiment 1, in some of the battery apparatus 100, one ofthe two identification recesses is closed, and in other batteryapparatus 100, both of the two identification recesses 1802, 1804 areopen. As to the two identification recesses, there are variations intheir length from one battery apparatus to another, such as two longidentification recesses 1802, 1804 of the same length, two shortidentification recesses 1802, 1804 of the same length, or twoidentification recesses 1802, 1804 each having a different length.

Therefore, as to, e.g., the battery apparatus 100A, one of the twoidentification recesses, i.e., the identification recess 1802 is short,and the other identification recess 1804 is closed.

As shown in FIG. 19, the battery apparatus 100 has the battery-sideterminal 14, a rechargeable battery section 12, the control circuitboard 16, the identification section 18.

The battery charger 400 has the attachment section-side terminal 32, thedetection means 40, a charging section 307, the control section 308.

The charging section 306 is configured to supply a charging current tothe charging section 12 of the battery apparatus 100 through theattachment section-side terminal 32 and the battery-side terminal 14, tocharge the charging section 12.

The control section 308 is configured to implement data communicationwith the control circuit board 16 of the battery apparatus 100 throughthe attachment section-side terminal 32 and the battery-side terminal14, to receive identification data indicative of a characteristic of thebattery apparatus 100 from the control circuit board 16.

Further, the control section 308 is configured to determine thecharacteristic of the battery apparatus 100 on the basis of a detectionresult by the detection means 40, to control the above-mentionedcharging current according to the detection result. Specifically, it isconfigured to adjust the above-mentioned charging current value and itssupply time by controlling the charging section 306. In the presentembodiment, it is configured such that the charging current isadjustable on three levels, i.e., a normal charging current, a quickcharging current, and a super quick charging current. Note that thenormal charging current, quick charging current, super quick chargingcurrent are set such that their current values increase in this order.

Next, advantageous effects of the present embodiment will be described.

When the battery apparatus 100 has been attached to the batteryattachment section 30 of the battery charger 400, a detection result asto the presence/absence (cross-sectional shape) of the identificationrecess(es) 1802, 1804 of the battery apparatus 100 and the length of theidentification recess(es) 1802, 1804 of the battery apparatus 100 issupplied by the detection means 40, to the control section 308. As aresult, the control section 308 determines the type of the batteryapparatus 100 on the basis of the above-mentioned detection result, tocontrol the charging section 306 such that a suitable charging currentcorresponding to the determined characteristic of the battery apparatus100 is to be supplied to the rechargeable battery section 1202.Specifically, any of the normal charging current, quick chargingcurrent, super quick charging current is set as the charging current.

Therefore, only by attaching the battery apparatus 100 to the batterycharger 400, a suitable charging operation which corresponds to thecharacteristic of the battery apparatus 100 attached can be performed.Thus, since the user has to perform no special operation, thisconfiguration is advantageous in enhancing the usability of the batterycharger 400.

By the way, as mentioned above, the control circuit board 16 of thebattery apparatus 100 holds identification data indicative of thecharacteristic of the battery apparatus 100 itself, i.e., the capacity,suitable charging current value, or whether any of the normal chargingcurrent, quick charging current, super quick charging current isapplicable as the charging current, and can transmit the identificationdata to the control section 308 of the battery charger 400.

Thus, by performing both determination of the battery apparatus 100 bythe detection means 40 and determination of the battery apparatus 100 bythe identification data, a suitable charging current can be supplied tothe battery apparatus 100 more reliably, as hereinafter described.

FIG. 20 is a flowchart showing a charging operation in a modifiedexample of Embodiment 2.

First, when the battery apparatus 100 has been attached to the batterycharger 400, the control section 308 determines the characteristic ofthe battery apparatus 100 on the basis of a detection result by thedetection means 40 (step S10).

Further, the control section 308 receives the above-mentionedidentification data on the battery apparatus 100 by implementing datacommunication with the control circuit board 16 of the battery apparatus100, to determine the characteristic of the battery apparatus 100 on thebasis of the identification data received (step S12).

The control section 308 determines whether or not these twodetermination results match in terms of the battery apparatus beingquickly chargeable (step S14).

If the determination result in step S14 is positive (“Y”), the controlsection 308 controls the charging section 306 so as to perform acharging operation based on quick charge (step S16). If thedetermination result in step S14 is negative (“N”), the control section308 controls the charging section 306 so as to perform a chargingoperation based on normal charge (step S18).

In this way, a quick charge is implemented only if the determinationresult by the detection means 40 match the determination result by theabove-mentioned identification data. Thus, even if a battery apparatus100 having the identification section 18 not correctly configured, i.e.,a battery apparatus 100 which is not a genuine product, has beenattached to the battery charger 400, only a normal charging operation ispermitted, prohibiting a quick charging operation in which a chargingcurrent greater than in a normal charge is supplied to the batteryapparatus 100. Thus, neither the battery apparatus 100 nor the batterycharger 400 are unreasonably loaded. Consequently, this configuration isadvantageous in implementing a suitable charging operation.

While the two identification recesses 1802, 1804 are provided as theidentification section 18 of the battery apparatus 100 in each of theabove-mentioned embodiments, one, or three or more identificationrecesses may be provided. Further, the identification recesses may comein three or more different lengths. Furthermore, while theidentification recesses are made different in terms of theirpresence/absence (cross-sectional shape) and length in each of theabove-mentioned embodiments, the identification recesses may be madedifferent otherwise in terms of their position, e.g., their positions inthe width direction W of the case 100. In these cases, identificationprojections on the side of the battery attachment section are, ofcourse, provided so as to correspond to the cross-sectional shapesincluding the presence/absence of the identification recesses, thelengths of the identification recesses, the positions of theidentification recesses.

Furthermore, it can be said that the battery apparatus 100 according toeach of the above-mentioned embodiments is configured as follows.

That is, the battery apparatus has the case 10. The case 10 has the twoend surfaces 1022, 1032 positioned on both ends in the length direction,and the side surfaces 1006 connecting these two end surfaces 1022, 1032,and the battery-side terminal 1014 is provided so as to face at leastone of the end surface 1022, which is one of the two end surfaces 1022,1032, and the side surfaces 1006 connected to that end surface 1022. Ineach side surface 1006 is an erroneous insertion prevention groove,which includes the plurality of recessed portions 1010 and which extendsin the above-mentioned length direction L. In the length direction L, ifit is termed a side of the battery-side terminal 1014 is as beingfrontward and a side opposite thereto is termed as being rearward, theerroneous insertion prevention groove is open at a portion (front endportion) which is one of both ends thereof in the length direction L andwhich is near the battery-side terminal 1014, and is closed at a portion(rear end portion) which is opposite thereto. And on each of theabove-mentioned erroneous insertion prevention grooves, a singleprojection 1018 or two or more projections 1018 are formed, whichproject outward of the case 10. In the case of the plurality ofprojections 1018, they extend at intervals in the above-mentioned lengthdirection L.

According to such a configuration, as described in FIG. 13, theidentification data on the battery apparatus 100 can be indicated by theposition of the projection(s) 1018 in the length direction L, thepresence/absence of the projection(s) 1018, the number of projections1018, or the like. In this case, since the projection(s) 1018 projectsoutward of the case 10, it occupies no space inside the case 10, andthus, this configuration is advantageous in securing a space foraccommodating components inside the case 10, or miniaturizing the case10. Additionally, this configuration is advantageous in improving thedegree of freedom in designing the battery apparatus 100.

Further, the battery apparatus 100 of the present embodiments isprovided with the above-mentioned erroneous insertion prevention groovealong each of the two side surfaces 1006 which interpose the case 10 inthe width direction W and which are opposed to each other. In this case,the two erroneous insertion prevention grooves are engaged withprojections corresponding thereto, whereby the above-mentioned case canbe positioned in the above-mentioned thickness direction H, and thus theabove-mentioned erroneous insertion prevention grooves can be made tofunction as positioning grooves.

According to such a configuration, if a battery accommodating chamber isprovided, which accommodates the battery apparatus 100 by having thebattery apparatus 100 inserted thereinto in the above-mentioned lengthdirection L, the above-mentioned respective projections are providedwithin that battery accommodating chamber, and the above-mentioned twoerroneous insertion prevention grooves are engaged with theseprojections, respectively, whereby battery apparatus, each having adimension different from the above-mentioned thickness H, can bepositioned and accommodated within the above-mentioned batteryaccommodation chamber.

Further, in the battery apparatus 100 of the present embodiments, theplurality of recessed portions 1010 are formed from the plurality oflocking pieces 1012 (1012A, 1012B, 1012C), the side surface 1016portions respectively facing these plurality of locking pieces 1012(1012A, 1012B, 1012C), and the surface 1014 portions respectively facingthese locking pieces 1012 (1012A, 1012B, 1012C). And thus, theabove-mentioned erroneous insertion prevention grooves can be formedfrom these plurality of recesses 1010.

Furthermore, the battery apparatus 100 of the present embodiments isprovided with the projections 1018 so as to be connected to theplurality of locking pieces 1012 (1012A, 1012B, 1012C), respectively,and the projections 1018 are respectively connected to the lockingpieces 1012 (1012A, 1012B, 1012C) at locations (near the battery-sideterminal) which are toward such a direction as to move (slide) thebattery apparatus 100 in the above-mentioned length direction L whilethe battery apparatus 100 is attached to the battery attachment section30.

According to such a configuration, when these locking pieces 1012(1012A, 1012B, 1012C) are locked into and unlocked from the plurality oflocking hooks 3004 (3004A, 3004B, 3004C), respectively, spaces areprovided between the locking piece 1012A and the locking hook 3004A,between the locking piece 1012B and the locking hook 3004B, between thelocking piece 1012C and the locking hook 3004C, in the above-mentionedlength direction L. As a result, when the plurality of locking pieces1012 (1012A, 1012B, 1012C) are locked into and unlocked from theplurality of locking hooks 3004 (3004A, 3004B, 3004C), each locking hookis less subject to interference with the corresponding projection 1018,and this configuration is advantageous in attaching and detaching thebattery apparatus 100 smoothly.

Furthermore, in each of the embodiments, e.g., an external type has beendescribed, in which the battery apparatus 100 is attached to the outersurface of the case of the electronic equipment, e.g., by the lockinghooks 3004 of the battery attachment section 30 being locked with thelocking pieces 1012 of the battery apparatus 100.

However, the present invention is not limited to this configuration. Thepresent invention is, of course, applicable even to an incorporatedtype, in which a battery accommodation chamber is provided, by which thebattery apparatus 100 is accommodated in the electronic equipment. Thatis, the battery accommodating chamber has a width corresponding to thewidth of the case 10 of the battery apparatus 100, a heightcorresponding to the thickness of the case 10, a depth corresponding tothe length of the case 10, and an accommodation chamber-side terminal(equivalent to the attachment section-side terminal) that comes incontact with the battery-side terminal 14, with the battery apparatus100 as oriented in the above-mentioned length direction parallellyinserted into the battery accommodating chamber as oriented in theabove-mentioned depth direction, and the battery apparatus 100 isattached to the electronic equipment when the battery apparatus has beenaccommodated in the battery accommodation chamber.

Furthermore, while the examples in which the electronic equipmentincludes an imaging apparatus and a battery charger has been shown ineach of the embodiments, the present invention is, of course, applicableto various electronic equipment that operate using a battery apparatus.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A battery comprising: a case having abottom surface and a front surface, wherein the front surface isapproximately perpendicular to the bottom surface, the bottom surface isone of surfaces of the case in a thickness direction, the front surfaceis one of surfaces of the case in a length direction; a terminal portionto output power from a battery cell, the terminal portion located at acorner between the bottom surface and the front surface, and theterminal portion including a negative terminal and a positive terminalarranged in a width direction; a step provided on the front surface, thestep extending in the width direction; locking pieces projecting fromboth sides of the bottom surface in the width direction; and sidegrooves provided at both sides of the battery in the width direction andextending in the length direction, where the locking pieces hang overthe side grooves, wherein a width of the step in the width direction issmaller than a distance between side surfaces of the side grooves in thewidth direction.
 2. The battery according to claim 1, wherein the stepis formed by a projection that projects from the front surface in thelength direction.
 3. The battery according to claim 1, wherein the stepis separated from the negative and positive terminals in the thicknessdirection.
 4. The battery according to claim 1, further comprising: aplurality of terminal grooves included in the terminal portion andarranged in the width direction, wherein the negative and positiveterminals are provided inside respective ones of the terminal grooves,wherein the width of the step in the width direction is greater than atotal width of the plurality of terminal grooves in the width direction.5. The battery according to claim 1, wherein the step extends linearlyin the width direction.
 6. The battery according to claim 1, wherein thestep is formed on the terminal portion.
 7. The battery according toclaim 1, further comprising: a plurality of terminal grooves included inthe terminal portion and arranged in the width direction, wherein thenegative and positive terminals are provided inside respective ones ofthe terminal grooves; a first concave portion provided at a first sideof the plurality of terminal grooves in the width direction; and asecond concave portion provided at a second side of the plurality ofterminal grooves in the width direction, wherein the width of the stepin the width direction is approximately equal to a distance between thefirst and second concave portions in the width direction.
 8. The batteryaccording to claim 1, further comprising: a plurality of terminalgrooves included in the terminal portion and arranged in the widthdirection, wherein the negative and positive terminals are providedinside respective ones of the terminal grooves; a first recess providedat a first side of the plurality of terminal grooves in the widthdirection; and a second recess provided at a second side of theplurality of terminal grooves in the width direction, wherein the widthof the step in the width direction is smaller than a distance betweenthe first and second recesses in the width direction.
 9. The batteryaccording to claim 8, wherein the recesses are for an identificationsection.
 10. The battery according to claim 8, wherein the recesses arefor identifying a characteristic of the battery.
 11. The batteryaccording to claim 1, wherein the step is formed so as to step up fromthe front surface in the length direction.
 12. The battery according toclaim 1, wherein the terminal portion includes a terminal case, aplurality of grooves, and contact pieces including the negative terminaland positive terminal.
 13. The battery according to claim 1, wherein thestep fits into a recess provided in an apparatus to which the battery isattached.
 14. The battery according to claim 1, wherein the step forms astepped surface, and the stepped surface is an outer-most surface of thebattery in the length direction.
 15. The battery according to claim 1,wherein the battery has a body section and a bottom section, and thestep is located at the body section.
 16. The battery according to claim15, wherein the step is located at an approximately same position in thethickness direction as a plane that separates the body section and thebottom section.
 17. The battery according to claim 1, wherein the casecomprises a first segment and a second segment; the case is formed bybonding the first and second segments together along a bonding surface;and the step is positioned between the bonding surface and the bottomsurface in the thickness direction.
 18. The battery according to claim1, wherein the battery is to be attached to a battery attachment sectionof an imaging apparatus.
 19. The battery according to claim 1, whereinthe battery is to supply power to an imaging apparatus.
 20. The batteryaccording to claim 1, wherein the step is located at an approximatelysame plane in the thickness direction as bottom surfaces of the sidegrooves, which are parallel to the bottom surface.
 21. The batteryaccording to claim 1, wherein a first set of three pieces of the lockingpieces project from one side of the bottom surface in the widthdirection and a second set of three pieces of the locking pieces projectfrom the other side of the bottom surface in the width direction. 22.The battery according to claim 1, wherein the side grooves extend in thelength direction to the front surface such that both sides of thebattery in the width direction on the front surface are recessed. 23.The battery according to claim 22, wherein the side grooves areconfigured to slidably attach the front surface of the battery to animaging apparatus.
 24. The battery according to claim 1, wherein thelocking pieces are to engage with corresponding locking hooks of animaging apparatus.